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[/media-credit]”Obviously, we all know what this race is about. It’s plenty of crashing and bashing. If we can survive that, we’ll be in good shape.”
Following qualifying on Saturday afternoon, Power said those words in the Media Centre at the Honda Indy Toronto, previewing the event and what was about to take place on the streets of Exhibition Place. For Power, those words would be the truth as a bump in the wall breaking a part of the wing would cause a flat tire, equaling an unscheduled pit stop and a 15th place finish.
“Today’s finish for the Verizon car is certainly a shame because I felt we had one of the quickest car,” Power said after the race on Sunday. “We did a good job on fuel but unfortunately we stayed out and got caught. I really enjoy racing here, just a tough break. It is going to be a tight finish with only five races to go.”
As a result, Power went from leading the points to now trailing Ryan Hunter-Reay by 34 points.
Power’s weekend was filled with bumping and banging as he found himself not pleased with certain competitors throughout the course of the weekend. In practice, there’d be contact between Power and rookie Simon Pagenaud.
“He blocked me down the back straight, kind of ran into me,” Power said after qualifying on Saturday. “It’s all good for me. I’m not out to get him or anything.”
Power added that he gave Pagenaud the Austrailian ‘go away’ when Pagenaud came to apologize. Then come qualifying, he gave Takumo Sato the ‘Austrailian hello’ after Sato blocked Power during qualifying, messing up one of his laps.
“I don’t know who was on his radio, but they should have been telling him who was coming,” Power commented.
Luckily, Power laid down a solid lap the next lap to make into the next round of qualifying to sit on the front row in second spot.
To most, they expect it as it’s just a product of the Toronto racing that includes lots of bumping and banging, considering the track design.
“I think it’s just the long straights that lead into a tight braking zone,” Power said. “And probably the lack of grip out of the corners. No one gets a big jump off the corners……I guess everyone just gets really aggressive get yellow after yellow. This year someone takes me out, going to get a smack across the chops.”
Power also says that there are some “winkles” out there and, “You gotta stay away from them or not become one of them.”
The issue during the race on Sunday, though, was all Power as he just seemed to overdrive the one corner. Also, surprisingly, the race only saw three cautions, though the final caution saw seven cars wreck/spin in the midst of three separate incidents.
Moving forward, Power will look to return to his road course glory of winning when the series heads to Edmonton as he won three straight races earlier in the season on road courses. It will be about getting Team Penske back on top as they won the first four races of the season, while Andretti Autosport has won the last three races. Power and team have the tools to do it as Power says Roger Penske gives them those tools.
“He gives the tools to make it work and the freedom to make it happen,” Power says. “He gives you the space, but sometimes when he sees something wrong, he’ll step in. That’s why he’s the leader; that’s why he’s the Captain.”
